Cookies on the IWCP website

This website uses cookies to improve the usability of the site. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies. To find out more about the cookies we use or to disable any cookies, visit our cookies page.

Elton John will be coming to the Isle of Wight in September to perform at Bestival. Picture by Terry O'Neill.

ONE of the world's greatest showmen, Elton John, will headline this year's Bestival, organisers have revealed this evening (Wednesday).

The star will perform on the main stage on Sunday night, while rap star Snoop Dogg has been confirmed as Saturday night headliner.

There will also be a performance by hip hop legends the Wu Tang Clan.

This year's Bestival is the tenth and organisers said they were planning for it to be a birthday spectacular.

Sir Elton said: "I haven’t played any of the major festivals in the UK in recent years, so when the opportunity to play Bestival came up I was very interested.

"I’ve heard that the Bestival audience comes in fancy dress and I can’t wait to see that - they must all look amazing from the stage.

"At various times I wore enormous feathered head-dresses, cloaks, hot pants, jumpsuits, clown suits, a Minnie Mouse outfit, French maid, The Eiffel Tower and The Statue of Liberty.

"Wearing fancy dress makes us all feel less inhibited so I think it’s a great way to enjoy live music.

"2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, so you can expect to hear several tracks from that album.

"My shows always involve audience participation, singing and dancing, so make sure there is plenty of room for movement inside those fancy dress costumes!"

Bestival curator Rob da Bank said: "After ten years of running our beloved festival, Bestival is still as psychedelically wondrous to us as the September day in 2004 when we first threw open the gates.

"2013 will be a vintage year. No increase in capacity, but more land, a raft of exciting changes around the site (including some great new spaces) and all dressed and made up in Bestival’s signature style.

"Band and DJ-wise we’ve cast our net far and wide. As ever, Bestival 2013 will be a magical mix of the old and the new, the vintage and classic rubbing shoulders with the ultra-modern and leftfield.

"From one of the biggest-selling artists of all time and certainly the best at fancy dress, Elton John, through the party blazing hip-hop of Snoop Dogg, through some amazing and rare shows, to the newest of the new bands and acts that I’m so excited about like Jagwar Mar, Merchandise and Cashmere Cat plus literally the finest selection of house and techno DJs we've ever had - from Richie Hawtin and Carl Cox to Besti stalwarts Erol Alkan and Annie Mac - this will be our best Bestival yet so don't miss out!"

As well as confirming two headliners, the team behind Bestival revealed a host of other acts due to appear over the weekend.